Updating integrated mite management 50 years later: comparing laboratory pesticide susceptibility of a ‘new’ generalist predatory mite to a cornerstone specialist predator

Abstract BACKGROUND Historically, integrated mite management in Washington apple orchards has focused on conservation of the predatory mite Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt) to reduce secondary pest mite pressure. However, pesticide use has changed to include more selective products, coinciding with a shift in the predatory mite community composition to include a new major predator, Amblydromella caudiglans (Schuster). There is evidence that A. caudiglans is more pesticide sensitive than G. occidentalis . Therefore, updates to pesticide selectivity recommendations are needed to conserve this ‘new’ key predator. Using bioassays, we examined the lethal (female mortality) and sublethal effects (fecundity, egg hatch, larval survival) of 4 fungicides and 11 insecticides on A. caudiglans , to determine whether existing conservation recommendations can be applied to this predatory mite. Susceptibility was compared with prior research on G. occidentalis . RESULTS Mancozeb was the least selective fungicide tested on A. caudiglans ; it caused high acute toxicity and sublethal effects. Carbaryl was the least selective insecticide and caused 100% mortality. Captan was the most selective fungicide. Chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole were the most selective insecticides and therefore least likely to disrupt biological control by A. caudiglans . Non‐target effects on A. caudiglans and G. occidentalis were similar, but A. caudiglans experienced higher mortality to some broad‐spectrum insecticides. CONCLUSIONS All the products tested had some non‐target effects on A. caudiglans . However, A. caudiglans sensitivity to most tested pesticides was similar to that of G. occidentalis . In general, existing spray recommendations for conserving G. occidentalis can be adjusted slightly and applied to A. caudiglans conservation. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.